Light and Easy "Coq au Vin"

«Coq au vin» [pr. kohk-oh-VAHN] is a classic French casserole dish. The original recipe includes salt pork and chicken giblets puréed in a red Burgundy wine sauce. In this lighter version, I have omitted both the salt pork and the giblets, but added the olives as is often done in the southern parts of France.

Method

Heat the oil in a pan or in a pot over medium heat. Working in batches, add the chicken pieces and sauté thoroughly on each side until golden, about 10 min. Take the pieces out of the pan and set them aside on a plate.

Add the onion and garlic to the pan then sauté 2-3 min until they have softened, adding some oil if necessary. Add the mushrooms and cook 2-3 min until they release their water. Add the diced tomatoes, wine, bay leaf, and thyme. Scrape the bottom of the pan thoroughly and bring to a boil.

Put the chicken back into the pan. Season with salt and pepper, then cover and
simmer about 40 min, until the chicken is tender, turning the pieces once during the cooking.